CHAPTER X

ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS INCLUDING TIME SCHEDULE
FOR
THEIR ENFORCEMENT

One of the mandates assigned to CPCB under the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is to lay down effluent and emission standards. The standards formulated during the year are given below:

10.1.1 Standards/Guidelines evolved during the year 2000-2001

• Noise limits for motor vehicles at the manufacturing stage
  
  These limits were notified under EPA, 1986 vide GSR 742(E), dated
  September 25, 2000.
  
  
• Noise Limit for Generator Sets run on Petrol/Kerosene
  
  These limits were notified under EPA, 1986 vide GSR 742(E), dated
  September 25, 2000.
  
  
• National Environmental Standards for Coal Mines
  
  These limits were notified under EPA, 1986 vide GSR 742(E), dated
  September 25, 2000.
  
  
• Fuel Quality and Vehicular Emissions
  
  CPCB actively participated to lay down the following standards/guidelines
  with respect to fuel quality and vehicular emissions:
  
  Emission norms for motor vehicles

       Fuel quality specifications

                             Road map for fuel quality upto 2005 evolved.

Emission Norms for 2/3 Wheelers from 2005

EURO - III Emission Norms for Passenger Cars & LCV Effective from 2005

• Development of emission standards for liquid fuel based power plants/large gensets (>1000 KVA).
• Development of emission standards for diesel generator sets upto 260 KW.
• Revision of noise standards for diesel generator sets.
• Noise labeling of domestic/office appliances.

10.1.3 Review of stack height regulations for thermal power plants

Presently, emission of sulphur dioxide and some other gaseous pollutants is regulated through stack height guidelines. Considering the improvement in power generation technologies such as AFBC, PFBC and IGCC in terms of efficiency and emission control, there is a need to review the present stack height regulations. A study has been initiated with IIT, Kanpur which likely to be completed by June 2001.


10.1.4 Development of emission standards for Liquid fuel based Power Plants/Large Gensets
           (>1000 KVA).

This project aims at assessing the emission levels of pollutants from standby power plants / large generator sets, which have mushroomed all over the country for captive power generation. Accordingly, the study aims at evolving necessary control technologies and suitable emission standards from such power plants. CPCB is conducting the study in association with M/s Sriram Environment & Allied Services, Gurgaon.


10.2 DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS - AN EXTERNAL FUNDING PROJECT

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been allocated a fund of US $ 1.00 million by the Ministry of Environment & Forests for the sub-component: Development of Standards under the World Bank funded Environmental Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project (EMCBTA). CPCB has identified the projects to be taken-up for execution in phases till March, 2003. Under this sub-component, various projects have been taken-up and brief write-up on each is given below:

Pesticides Manufacturing Industry

Pesticides industry being critical in terms of raw material usage and final products/by-products, demand special care/attention. It is well established that the process of development of industry-specific-standards considers techno-economic feasibility as the criteria. This criteria demands the review of technologies for control of pollutants emanating from the industries and cost implications due to such pollution control equipment and bearing on health & environment. Therefore, looking at the complexity, a local consultant was engaged to provide basic information/data, which has been completed, then a foreign consultant has been engaged to review the findings of the study conducted indigenously and to suggest the best practices being followed in advanced countries, and options for improvement in terms of technologies (best available & best practicable) suitable to Indian pesticides industries. The foreign consultant in association with the Central Board's officials visited various pesticides industries and conducted a workshop at Central Board to share the experiences in control of pollution in pesticides industry. The final report is under preparation. The exercise will yield the national emission standards for pesticides manufacturing industries.

Petrochemical Industries

Petrochemical plants involve cracking of different feedstock to separate various petrochemicals. These petrochemicals are further reformed to get desired end-use products. As number of petrochemicals are being produced in India in varying capacities, the emission arising from the processes are also varying in characteristics and in general the process-vents are either let-out or subjected to flaring or incineration depending upon the pressure. Besides these process-vents, a considerable amount of emissions escape the system in the form of fugitive emissions. It has been considered that the process equipment can be modified to restrict the fugitive emissions and the process-vents shall be collected to box-flaring/incineration. Precisely, it is aiming for the review of process technologies, equipment besides conventional approach of providing end of the pipe pollution control equipment, their efficiencies, monitoring etc. Considering these, consultants having experts (including foreign) have been engaged for assessing the status of indigenous petrochemical plants and to explore the options for equipment modifications, control of emissions etc. and retrofitting of developed criteria.

The above exercise will result in development of national emission standards for petrochemical plants.

Total Dissolved Solids in Industrial Effluents

The detailed studies have been conducted by engaging the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), Pune, to identify i) sources of TDS in industrial effluents; ii) alternative options to eliminate/minimise TDS in effluent; and iii) techno-economic feasibility of the available control technologies for small to medium-scale industries.

To accomplish the task, selected industries in each sector viz. pesticides, bulk-drugs, tanneries and dye & dye intermediate, have been studied by CPCB & NCL teams. It is noticed during the industrial visits that TDS is a critical problem, which demands not only feasible control system but also process modifications to avoid or reduce the generation of TDS.

It has been seen that when the control technologies available for TDS are compared, each system has their merits as well as demerits. Therefore, it has been concluded that the issue of TDS management should be seen holistically i.e.

• Control at the source by process modifications & control equipment, as far as possible;
• Utilising available dilution due to other wastewaters as long as not impairing any treatment systems. It implies that the available dilution in sewerage network may be explored such that mixing with sewage can be attained to such a level where there is no interference in treatment of sewage;
• Wherever, such sewerage facilities are not available, the minimum possible dilution available in natural water bodies may be explored. It implies the discharge of TDS containing effluents to rivers/ lakes to the extent such that the TDS level of the water body is maintained within the potable limits, with a cushion; and
• Where there are no options of either sewerage system or natural streams (which can take-up TDS load) available, the industries shall relocate their principle activities causing generation of TDS, near coasts so that after required treatment, effluent may be disposed into sea.

Such a strategy, exploring all the possibilities to relieve the industries from economic burden due to control of TDS and to protect receiving environment, has been proposed and is being debated in order to yield national standards.

10.3 REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENTS PROGRAMME

The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, issued the notification in April, 1992 and further amended in April, 1993, for submission of 'Environmental Statements' (ES) by the industries to the respective State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs). ES is a pro-active tool for self-examination by the industry so as to reduce or minimise pollution by adopting process modifications, recycling and reusing of the resources. The regular submission of ES will indicate the systematic improvement made by the industries in achieving environmental pollution control. Besides, ES may be used as an environmental performance indicator and to promote better practices.

In order to assess the effect of ES programme in achieving the environmental protection and resource conservation, a national project has been taken-up by the Ministry of Environment & Forests and is being implemented through Central Pollution Control Board. In this project, thirteen major industrial sectors have been identified for collation and compilation of information received through ES which are submitted by the industries to the State Pollution Control Boards, so as to assess the trend of improvements and constraints, each sector wise, and to draw national programmes.

The Central Pollution Control Board has already entrusted the work of following sectors to expert institutes/organisations/individuals or in the process of awarding the work: i) tanneries ii) bulk-drug industries iii) thermal power stations iv) distilleries v) sugar industries vi) cement industries vii) iron & steel plants viii) textile industries ix) fertiliser industries x) pesticides industries xi) petrochemical plants xii) pulp & paper industries xiii) oil refineries.